HARRIS-LASS MUSEUM
1889 Market Street
Santa Clara
Constructed 1864 prior to the continuation of Market St., the
earliest reference to this site is found in the J.J. Bowen 1866
Survey of Santa Clara, with a house, barn, and orchard noted as
‘improvements’ to the property. The house was built by Henry and
Mary Harris, whose son Albert, a vice-president of the Santa Clara
Valley Bank, lived there until 1906. At that time Captain Frederick
Lass purchased the property, and the Lass family would live there
for over 80 years until his daughter Johanna Haynes sold the
property to the City. This 11-room Italianate home is significant
primarily as the last remaining large farmhouse in Santa Clara.
Narrow shiplap siding sheathes the structure with a truncated
low-hipped roof punctuated by 4 pedimental-shaped gablets. The
deeply projecting eaves are ornamented by a row of dentils and
corner brackets. The east façade has a squared portico, supported
by twin square columns and a balustrade crowns the portico, which
covers a handsome round-arched entry door with a fanlight. The
interior, which has been restored to represent the period of
Captain Lass” occupancy, features a striking double parlor, and
Albert Harris’ safe may be seen in the basement of the house.
The tank house on the property, although typical of those used
in the Santa Clara Valley, is not original. It was moved there in
1987.
Although owned by the City, the site is operated by the Historic
Preservation Society of Santa Clara, a non profit public benefit
corporation, staffed by volunteers. The Museum is opened to the
public Saturday & Sunday, 12.00-4.00 PM. The admission price is
nominal.
Locationless Caches:
The magnetic cache is not on museum grounds.
